Style Watch - Designs Against Body Shaming

We live in a world where body shaming has become the norm. People are criticized for how they look, without the slightest remorse from their attackers. In fact, social media has made this negativity more prevalent than ever before. Everyone has a voice and expressing hateful ideals “comes with the territory” of free speech. Tabloids are no longer the only entities casting insults. Even though celebrities, like singer Demi Lovato and model Ashley Graham spoke out against body shaming, free speech allows individuals to spew hate. What now?

Is a girl supposed to be ashamed of her extra curves?

Plus size Designer Ashley Nell Tipton does not think so. She partnered with JC Penny to premier her curvy fashion line-Ashley Nell Tipton. Her styles cater to tons of body types, with designs that are filled with pencil skirts, plush vests, sporty jackets and patterned blouses. Ashley Nell Tipton has a vibrancy that has too long been reserved for smaller frames.

The clothes are exclusive on style, which should be available to everyone. It is a breath of fresh air to see a plus size clothing line that effectively executes street style and funk into their aesthetic. No longer will curtain-like clothing and excessively draped material be considered acceptable plus size fashion! All women are sexy and all women deserve access to clothes that exhibit this.

Unfortunately, there is a perception that thin women reject the notion of universalized beauty. Movies often portray this stereotype and narrow-minded people label petite females as being conceited and extremely critical of fuller sized women. It was even a running joke that thin ladies are not "real" women, as if size is what makes a woman a woman. No one deserves to be body shamed. This act is condescending, no matter how you tip the scale. Instead of marginalizing one group against the other, females simply need to embrace one another.

What is more alarming is that these arguments come from women themselves. They are the ones attacking each other in the midst of a patriarchal society that already rates women’s body size as a factor of attractiveness. Give body shaming a rest and if you know a women whose dress size ranges from 14W to 30W, tell her to purchase an Ashley Nell Tipton piece!